Antonio Tajani, the new President of the European Parliament, has told Sky News that Theresa May's decision to call a snap General Election could help the Brexit negotiations.

After meeting the Prime Minister in Downing Street, Mr Tajani said: "To have stability in the UK is better for us.

"For us to have the next years the same interlocutor, the same government, is better because we will know the strategy and the ideas of the UK, to negotiate an agreement with the same government is better for us.

"A Government with an election campaign after Brexit agreement immediately is not good for UK nor for us. The stability of the UK is important."

Asked where the reciprocity lay in trying to charge a massive "exit fee", put at around £50bn, for leaving the EU, Mr Tajani said: "No we have to be clear on this, the UK will pay only the money, nothing more nothing less.

"It's too early for quantity of money, probably billions, we need to check at a technical level. The benefits are for farmers of Scotland, small businesses. Not less, not more money, and not money for leaving the EU".

He said tariffs could not be ruled out but that "this is your decision".